May B

Oh noooooooo. Too many, actually!

You mean the email came before the res. agents had access to the special fares? It’s now four days later. Has that been remedied?

We should volunteer to proof for them! How about the fact that the promo in the email is for aquamarine and sapphire but those single fares aren’t included on the page of cruise fares. At least there’s a caveat to that effect, in the email.

Also, checking your spam can be like going on a treasure hunt. I never remember, until somebody tells me they emailed me, but I didn’t receive it. Even emails responding to mine have ended up in spam! Does that make any sense?

If you mean the 100 passenger ones, I don’t remember uncomfortable beds. I remember they didn’t triple-sheet the beds! I had to request it specifically.

I don’t understand. What did they name it?

Let me clarify. We absolutely should bring our own current mah jongg card, if we hope to play. Just in case. I meant I would buy a deck of Mah Jongg Kards from the league ($28) to bring with me, if I really had my heart set on playing, in case there was no set to be found, or it happened to be missing one or more tiles. I’ve never played with them, and I’m sure it’s not quite the same vibe, but it certainly would make for a valid game opportunity.

When we boarded Crystal Symphony in June of 2015, we had high expectations. Crystal exceeded them! That was Crystal then. We expect Crystal now to be equal to or better than what we’ve experienced on our previous nine Crystal voyages. We look forward to boarding Nov. 2nd in Miami.

Fun! Especially recognizing a few guests and loving the comments … and the smiles.

Wow! I think if it were very important to me, I’d buy the cards to take, in case the onboard sets weren’t complete. I presume they still do exist, although I’ve never actually seen them. I’ve only played on one cruise, Azamara to Antarctica, tons of at-sea days. I learned how to play three-handed there.

Adrian, Cristina Levis has already told us they are planning a return of a casino, albeit probably smaller and as yet not negotiated. If the ships could come back in not much more than 12 months, I think asking for a casino in eleven is not at all unrealistic.

I think you mean eight nights? And I, of course, meant a $200 price difference pp, for the entire cruise. So it’s more of a bargain for my eleven night than my eight night. Still only $25 pp per night. I’m not sure whether it’s port dependent. Do you mean the popularity of the ports?

Not true on new Crystal, Kathy. I paid $200 pp, for my eleven night Caribbean in November and my eight night west coast in June. Great bargains!

I’m sad that you haven’t been there yet! Mackinac is a wonderful place to visit. I predict you will get there in the next 15 years. While I have never stepped inside the hotel (nor have I seen the movie!), I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Yay!

Ivi, I truly doubt that decision will be changed, other than in a port that might be less popular than many ports. I do hope you will enjoy Tastes, where previous guests have raved about both food and service. In fact, I wonder if they might entertain a special request for subsequent lunches when there are consecutive port days. Nobody would want to make you eat a burger or a dog for your main meal.

That’s nice, and I love when they say they were able to get something for you. Something that anybody could’ve gotten for you. The thing you’ll miss is the onboard booking discount.

It makes sense, and it isn’t anything most of us would realize! We would certainly know, if we wanted to book those lower categories and found we could only book it as a guarantee.

Great lesson for all of us. Thank you for this!

Taking away the Crystal Society discount would be a real shocker. Could the agent have meant the $500 air credit expired?

And walk up along the area called The Gap, I think! Loved that very much. Then after lunch, take a city bus to Bondi Beach and walk south to the next beach. Fun! Aha! See Tripacian’s post just before mine. And the bridge climb is a wonderful experience. Mr B wouldn’t do it, but a friend joined me.

Natural, for sure! I think the Māori are more recent than Australia’s native population? Auckland’s museum was wonderful, as was Wellington’s (not a stop for DaisyUK, I don’t think). We also enjoyed botanical gardens, one in Wellington, one in Sydney and a third one (Hobart?). Among many other attractions.

We did a 20-night land trip in around 2007, just to Australia. Then in around 2012, we did a cruise, Sydney to Auckland, with our own six-night pre-cruise stay in Sydney. We loved both of those trips. If it weren’t so far, we’d probably go again! Your itinerary includes some places we felt were true highlights of travel, and some we have not seen. Even though the history is so recent, I think you’ll find it fascinating. We certainly did. And the natural beauty in some places is fairly unique.

I just read your review to Mr B! We were disappointed for you that you couldn’t get into Umi Uma or O d’O, quite as much as you would have liked. But Mr B wondered, could you have had dinner from those specialties, delivered to your suite, if you wished? Happy cruising!

For Mr B’s birthday! Wish we could be there, too.